Relief for Lalu Prasad, Rabri in disproportionate assets case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has held that the Bihar government did not have the authority to file an appeal in the Patna High Court against the acquittal of RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his wife in a disproportionate assets case which was prosecuted by the CBI.

"Bihar Government is not a competent authority to file an appeal in the case," a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R M Lodha and B S Chauhan said.

The verdict was passed by allowing the appeal filed by Lalu Prasad and his wife and also by the CBI challenging the decision of the Patna High Court admitting the appeal filed by the Bihar Government against their acquittal by a special CBI court.

The state Government had filed the appeal after the CBI had not challenged the acquittal.

While delivering the judgement, Justice Lodha said in the present case, it is the Centre and the CBI alone which are the competent authorities to file the appeal and the state government is excluded to challenge the trial court's order under the law.